Portable hand loom



July 9, 1957 E. NADEAU 2,798,512

PORTABLE HAND LOOM Filed May 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Fl G. /2

INVENTOR. ELPHEGE NADEAU g, ATTORN Y July 9, 1957 E. NADEAU 2,798,512

PORTABLE HAND LOOM Filed May 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl 2 INVENTOR.

ELPHEGE NADEAU I ATTORNEY y 1957 E. NADEAU 2,798,512

PORTABLE HAND LOOM Filed May 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 3

IN VEN TOR.

ELPHEGE NADEAU BY ATTORNEY y 9, 1957 E. NADEAU 2,798,512

PORTABLE HAND LOOM Filed May 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ELPH EGE NADEAU BY ATTOR N EY J y 9, 1 E. NADEAU 2,798,512

PORTABLE HAND LOOM Filed May 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR. ELPHEGE NADEAU BY @W ATTORNE PORTABLE HAND LOOM Elphege Nadeau, Blackstone, Mass.

Application May 28, 1954, Serial No. 433,012

6 Claims. (Cl. 139 -33) My present invention relates to the weaving art and more particularly to a small portable hand loom.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a small hand loom that is light and readily portable and may be rested on any convenient table or other support and easily stored away.

. Another object of the present invention is to provide a light, portable hand loom that can be used in homes, hospitals, elementary schools, and by the handicapped.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a small hand loom of simple construction but having all the necessary elements for weaving, including the weaving of complex designs in different types of fabric.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a small hand loom having a novel means for manipulating the harnesses with a single motion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a small hand loom which can easily be operated by an amateur at relatively high speed due to the small number of steps necessary to weave.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a small, light and portable hand loom that can weave fine silk thread as well as coarse cottons and woolens.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a small hand loom which is simple in construction and comprises a minimum number of easily assembled parts.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts, more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a hand loom embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a rear View thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section of the harness selector mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the actuating tabs.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detailed section of one end of the warp beam suspension.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another form of actuating tab.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing another form of harness selector mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 1010 on Fig. 9.

The conventional hand loom is a large, clumsy two harness affair having a limited capacity. While hand looms have been constructed capable of weaving intricate patterns, these are usually comparatively large and must be operated by an adult. The hand loom of the present 2,798,512 Patented July 9, 1957 invention has reduced the number of necessary parts and operations to an absolute minimum. The result is a small hand loom approximately 16" wide and weighing approximately 12 pounds. The resultant loom is easily portable and can be operated by a child as an educational toy or by a handicapped person. In spite of its small size and weight it will weave any type of yarn, fine silk thread as well as coarse cottons or woolens, in either plain or fancy weaves, and in a variety of color combinations. The loom may be used for physical therapy, educational purposes, and its speedy operation permits the weaving of samples in mills having large automatic looms.

Referring more in detail to the drawings illustrating my invention the hand loom is supported by side plates 10 and 11 preferably made of light weight, stamped sheet aluminum in a general L-shape having a horizontal portion and an integral forwardly curved vertical portion as shown in Fig. 2. The supporting plates 10 and 11 are each provided at each end with suction cup supports 12 for holding the loom on a flat surface without slipping. To save weight and simplify assembly operations the plates may be cut out as at 13.

As in a conventional loom, the yarn to be woven is wound on a warp beam 14 mounted in the lower rear portion of the loom between the plates 10 and 11 on a shaft 15. The plates 10 and 11 are each provided with spaced parallel horizontal slots 16 which form a resilient portion between the slots as shown in Fig. 2. The warp beam shaft 15 is mounted in these resilient portions. One end 17 is hooked over as shown in Fig. 7 to prevent rotation of the shaft. The other end of the shaft 15 extends through the side plate 11 and is provided with a coil spring 18 and a wing nut 19 so that turning movement of the nut 19 will cause the spring 18 to push against the resilient portion of the plate 11. The warp beam 14 is provided with end plates or disks 20 at each end and the side plates 10 and 11 are provided with friction disks 21 bearing against the end disks 20. This provides a friction let-off device for the warp beam in which the tension can be controlled by the wing nut 19.

The warp threads 22 pass from the warp beam 14 over a bar 23 mounted between the side plates 10 and 11 directly above the warp beam as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The threads pass through the harnesses 24, through the reed 25 and the finished cloth passes over a bar 26 mounted in the upper front portion of the machine and is wound on the cloth roll 27 mounted below the bar 26. The cloth roll 27 is provided with a suitable take-up mechanism which comprises an enlarged ratchet gear 28 mounted at one end of the cloth roll shaft beyond the side plate 11. A pawl 29 is pivotally mounted on the side plate and adapted to engage the teeth on the ratchet 28. A handle 30 is also mounted on the shaft 27 behind the ratchet gear 28 and is provided with a pawl for manually moving the ratchet gear and rotating the cloth roll as the cloth is wound thereon. Tension on the finished cloth may be provided by the conventional clips 31 riding in slots 32 on each side. The reed 25 is mounted in a frame 33 suspended from side straps 34 which are pivoted on a bar 35 mounted in the upper forward portion of the side plates 10 and 11. The reed frame is operated by means of a bar 36 which can be grasped manually as shown in Fig. 1.

The loom of the present invention can be equipped with a plurality of harnesses 24 and for purposes of illustration four (4) are shown. The selector mechanism for controlling the raising of the harnesses is mounted on the shaft and a spaced parallel shaft 37. The selector mechanism is manually movable intermittently to raise the desired harnesses to form selected sheds and thus vary the pattern. It comprises a pulley shaft 38 mounted substantially centrally between the bars 35 and 37. A pulley 39 is independently rotatably mounted on the shaft 33 immediately above each harness 24.

A harness lever shaft 40 is also mounted between thebars 35 and'37' in spaced parallel relation to the" pulley shaft 38. A harness lever 41 in a general L-shape is pivotally mounted on the shaft 40 one for each harness.

The long arm ofeaeh lever 41 is provided at'the outer end with an opening'42'to which a flexible l'eatherstrap 43 is attached. The strap 43 extends over. one of the pulleys 39 and then vertically downwardly to substantially the center portion of its respective harness as shown in Figs. 1. and 3'. As can readily be seen in'Fig,, 4, when. the long arm of the harness lever is in horizontal positionthe harness is in lowered position. harness lever is pivoted counterclockwise so that the long arm is in vertical position theharnesswillbe pulled upwardly, by the strap 43. The shorterarm of the lever 41 is provided with an'enlarged tip end 44 which acts as-a stop element. A

The selector mechanism-is mounted on apair of vertical posts 45 and 46 extendingupwardlyfrom the bars 35 and 37. A shaft 47 is rota-tably mounted adjacent the upper ends of the post and extending outwardly towards the front of the lo'om. The forward end of the shaft 47 is provided with an operating wheel 48 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and-3. Mounted on the shaft: 47 between the posts 45 and 46 is a cylinder 49 which is keyed or fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith. The cylinder 49 is provided with a plurality of slots or keyways 50 extending radially outwardly from adjacent the center. shown. Each inner end of the keyways 50 is provided with'a rounded enlarged portion.

A selector tab 51 is shown in Fig. 5. It comprises a flat body portion 52 having an integral enlarged bottom edge 53 adapted to fit into the enlarged portion of: the keyways 50. The selector portion of the tab 51 comprises an upwardly extending portion 54 which may be varied from tab. to tab dependingon the number of harnesses to be. raised at a particular time. Since the portions 54 are designed to engage the harness. levers 41,

the number and positionof the tab portions 54 will be varied. accordingly. For example, in Fig; 2,- atab is provided with two (2) portions 54 one at eachend adapted toengage the first and lastharness levers. The next tab is provided with only one 1) member 54moved inwardly to engage the second harnesslever. The tabs shownin Fig. 6 aresufficiently wide to engage the second and third harness levers simultaneously.

After the pattern has been determined,- the tabs 51" are slipped into their respective keyways'50 inproper order as shown in-Fig. 4. The inner end of the cylinder 49' is provided with a plate 55' having a plurality of-openings 56 as shown in-Figs. 3 and 6 each corre-- sponding to a keyway. An adjustable spring pressed ball 57 extendsthrough post-46 to engage'the openings 56 to yieldingly hold the selector mechanism in any given position. The front end of the cylinder 49 is covered by a plate or'washer 53 shown in Fig; 4 which is provided with a U-shaped slot 59'for locking the'tabs in thekeywa-ys. Any or allof the tabs canbe removed or replaced by turning the plate 58 until the opening 59"is in register with the keyway thus enabling the tab to be slipped out.

Referring to Fig. 4, the cylinder 49 and tabs 51 are so mounted that the lowermost tabs will engage the short'arms of the levers 41 and push them into horizontal position; The operation is simple. The wheel 48 is manually rotated lockwise until one (1) of the tabs 51' When the.

As illustrated in Fig; 4, eight (8) keyways are.

engages the short arms of the lever or levers 41 up to the point 44 at the end of the lever as shown in Fig. 4. At this point the ball 57 will have snapped into its corresponding opening 56 to hold the parts in position. The movement of the levers 41 will serve to raise one or more of the frames 24 to form a shed through which the shuttle 60 can be passed manually.

The beating operation is simple. The bar 36 is grasped with one hand and pulled forwardly causing the reed frame to swing forwardly and beat the yarn tight. The wheel 48 is then again turned until the next succeeding tab 51 is in vertical downward position and the shuttle is passed back through the new shed. As the weaving continues the finished cloth can'be wound on the cloth roll 27 by using the lever 30 and the take-up ratchet wheel 28.

The above construction thus permits a large variety of patterns to be woven by the use of the simple selector mechanism. A single movement of the wheel changes the shed to the selected harnesses, and a pass of the shuttle and the beating of the yarn are all that is necessary for the weaving operation. Once the selector mechanism has been set and the warp put in place, a child could easily operate the loom.

Referring to Figs. 8, 9, and 10; I have thereillustrated a simpler modification of the selector mechanism.

The parallel shafts 61 and. 62 correspond tofthe shafts 35' and 37. The posts 63 and 64- correspondto the posts 45 and 46. The shaft 65, corresponding to the shaft 47, is mountedin the posts andis also provided with the wheel-for manual operation (not shown). In this form the cylinder'66 is provided with fiat radial slots 67 forholdi-ng the tabs'68. The tabs 68 are entirely flat and are provided with the usual ta-b portions 69 identical with the portions 54 in the tabSl. However, a-small integral lug 70 extends from each end of the bottom portion of the tabs 68' so'that when the tabs are positioned in the slots 67 the lugs 70 will extend laterally from-eachen'd of the cylinder 66 as shown in Fig. 10. The tabs are locked in'the cylinder by'means of cup shaped washers 71' and 72. The washer 71 is at the rear and engages the lugs70 as shown in Fig. 10. The front washer 72 is similar to the washer 71' but is provided with a U-shaped slot 73 for inserting and removing the'tabs;

Now referring to Fig. 9 the harness levers 74are provided withenlarged ends -75.which act as a stop for the: tab'. A's-the wheel is manually rotated a point of resistance. will be reached when the lowermost tab rides against the 'enlargedend'75: of the lever 74. This can be felt and :the shuttle can then be passed through the shed. The.

weight ofthe frame on the straps 76 and the lever 74 will. causera locking. engagement with the selector mechanism. to hold it in position. The beating of the yarn is". done as in the first form. When this operation has beeni'completed the wheel is forced around so that the tabwill ride over the enlarged end 75 and the next succeedingtab turns into position.

In this second form the selector mechanism is much simpler. The spring ball has been eliminated and the, use of flat tabs permits their manufacture by an economical'stampingoperation. The method of operation, however, is thesame in both forms of selector mechanisms.

have thus provided'a simple, compact and extremely small hand loom. containing all the elements necessary'for the weaving of intricate patterns. The construction is simple and easyto manufacture and assemble. Furthermore, the loom is easy to operate speedily and efficiently; yet it .is capable of producing the types of fabrics normally produced on large automatic looms. In addition, the loom will operate efficientlywith any type. of yarn, whether fine sills or coarse cotton or 'woolens.

Other advantages'of the present invention will .be'readily apparentto a'person skilled in the art.

1. In a portable hand loom having spaced vertical supports, a warp beam and a take-up roll mounted in the lower portion of said supports, a reed frame pivotally suspended between said warp beam and take-up roll, and a plurality of harnesses positioned between said warp beam and take-up roll, means for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses comprising a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in the upper ends of said supports, each of said levers having a strap connected to one of said harnesses, a manually operable selector mechanism mounted in the upper ends of said supports, means extending from said selector mechanism for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses, and integral portions extending from said levers in the path of movement of said selector means, said selector mechanism comprising a manually rotatable shaft, a cylinder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, said cylinder having a plurality of radial slots extending inwardly from the surface thereof, a tab member in each slot having radially extending tab portions adapted to engage said levers, and means for removably locking said tab members in said slots, said looking means including an enlarged portion at the bottom edge of each tab member resting in an enlarged portion at the bottom of each slot, and a lock washer at each end of said cylinder.

2. In a portable hand loom having spaced vertical supports, a warp beam and a take-up roll mounted in the lower portion of said supports, a reed frame pivotally suspended between said warp beam and take-up roll, and a plurality of harnesses positioned between said warp beam and take-up roll, means for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses comprising a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in the upper ends of said supports, each of said levers having a strap connected to one of said harnesses, a manually operable selector mechanism mounted in the upper ends of said supports, means extending from said selector mechanism for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses, and integral portions extending from said levers in the path of movement of said selector means, said selector mechanism comprising a manually rotatable shaft, a cylinder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, said cylinder having a plurality of radial slots extending inwardly from the surface thereof, a tab member in each slot having radially extending tab portions adapted to engage said levers, and means for removably locking said tab members in said slots, said locking means including an integral lug extending from each lower end of each tab member, and a lock washer at each end of said cylinder having a rim portion engaging said lugs.

3. In a portable hand loom having spaced vertical supports, a warp beam and a take-up roll mounted in the lower portion of said supports, a reed frame pivotally suspended between said warp beam and take-up roll, and a plurality of harnesses positioned between said warp beam and take-up roll, means for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses comprising a plurality of lovers pivotally mounted in the upper ends of said supports, each of said levers having a strap connected to one of said harnesses, a manually operable selector mechanism mounted in the upper ends of said supports, means extending from said selector mechanism for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses, and integral portions extending from said levers in the path of movement of said selector means, said selector mechanism comprising a manually rotatable shaft, a cylinder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, said cylinder having a plurality of radial slots extending inwardly from the surface thereof, a tab member in each slot having radially extending tab portions adapted to engage said levers, means for removably locking said tab members in said slots, said locking means including an enlarged portion at the bottom edge of each tab member resting in an enlarged portion at the bottom of each slot, and a lock washer at each end of said 6 a t cylinder, and means for releasably retaining said cylinder in position when one of said tab portions engages said levers.

4. In a portable hand loom having spaced vertical supports, a warp beam and a take-up roll mounted in the lower portion of said supports, a reed frame pivotally suspended between said warp beam and take-up roll, and a plurality of harnesses positioned between said warp beam and take-up roll, means for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses comprising a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in the upper ends of said supports, each of said levers having a strap connected to one of said harnesses, a manually operable selector mechanism mounted in the upper ends of said supports, means extending from said selector mechanism for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses, and integral portions extending from said levers in the path of movement of said selector means, said selector mechanism comprising a manually rotatable shaft, a cylinder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, said cylinder having a plurality of radial slots extending inwardly from the surface thereof, a tab member in each slot having radially extending tab portions adapted to engage said levers, means for removably locking said tab members in said slots, said locking means including an integral lug extending from each lower end of each tab member, and a lock washer at each end of said cylinder having a rim portion engaging said lugs, and means for releas-ably retaining said cyl inder in position when one of said tab portions engages said levers.

5. In a portable hand loom having spaced vertical supports, a warp beam and a take-up roll mounted in the lower portion of said supports, a reed frame pivotally suspended between said warp beam and take-up roll, and a plurality of harnesses positioned between said warp beam and take-up roll, means for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses comprising a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in the upper ends of said supports, each of said levers having a strap connected to one of said harnesses, a manually operable selector mechanism mounted in the upper ends of said supports, means extending from said selector mechanism for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses, and integral portions extending from said levers in the path of movement of said selector means, said selector mechanism comprising a manually rotatable shaft, a cylinder mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto, said cylinder having a plurality of radial slots extending inwardly from the surface thereof, a tab member in each slot having radially extending tab portions adapted to engage said levers, means for removably locking said tab members in said slots, said locking means including an enlarged. portion at the bottom edge of each tab member resting in an enlarged portion at the bottom of each slot, and a lock washer at each end of said cylinder, and means for releasably retaining said cylinder in position when one of said tab portions engages said levers, said retaining means including an enlarged end on said levers engageable by said tab members.

6. In a portable hand loom having spaced vertical supports, a warp beam and a take-up roll mounted in the lower portion of said supports, a reed frame pivotally suspended between said warp beam and take-up roll, and a plurality of harnesses positioned between said warp beam and take-up roll, means for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses comprising a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in the upper ends of said supports, each of said levers having a strap connected to one of said harnesses, a manually operable selector mechanism mounted in the upper ends of said supports, means extending from said selector mechanism for selectively raising and lowering said harnesses, and integral portions extending from said levers in the path of movement of said selector means, said selector mechanism comprising a manually rotatable shaft, a cylinder mounted on said shaftiand keyedihereto,,said-cylinder having 'a plurality References Cited in the file of this patent of} r adi'alvfslots. extending inwardly. ffom -t11'e. surface UNLTED! STATES thereof, a tab member in each slot having radially, ex-

tending tab ppr tionsadapted to engagesaid levers, means stafiqrdni f 1899f for. removably lbckin'gsaid tab members, in said, slots, 5 1 f f Q Gordon July" 1915i and means for releasably retaining said'cylind'er, in posi' A9168: 193 time when one of'said tab portionsengagesi said'v levers, Holmes" 1937' saidjretainingmeans including anrenlarged endion said OTHERREFERENCES levers engageable' Said tab'membersania spring7 Saturday:EveningxPostfi July-'12; 1,952,:pages-36, 3:7

pressed ,b'allvin said'cylinder mounting engaging succes 10 and,125,. sivc opemngs. 1nv said cylinder. 

